Uzbekistan down Qatar 5-1 in World Cup qualifiers

Uzbekistan narrowly missed out on direct qualification for the 2014 World Cup despite the massive win on Tuesday.

Tashkent: Uzbekistan narrowly missed out on direct qualification for the 2014 World Cup despite routing Qatar 5-1 on Tuesday.

Uzbekistan finished level on points with South Korea for second spot in Group A of Asian qualifying - which yielded automatic qualification for Brazil - but were one behind on goal difference.

Uzbekistan will go into a sudden-death playoff against either Oman or Jordan, who meet later Tuesday. Qatar took the lead in the 37th minute through Abdulqadir Ilyas.

Uzbekistan dominated in the second half. Bakhodir Nasimov tapped in a cross to equalize in the 60th. Goals in the 72nd and 74th put Uzbekistan up 3-1 and the hosts scored again in the 88th minute and stoppage time but ran out of time to further improve their goal difference.